The controversy surrounding Ranveer Singh’s reported exit from Don 3 has intensified after filmmaker and FWICE chief adviser Ashoke Pandit publicly backed the film’s producers and described the actor’s sudden withdrawal as a “very dangerous trend” for the Indian film industry.
Speaking to PTI, Pandit revealed that producers Farhan Akhtar and Riteish Sidhwani had already invested nearly Rs 45 crore into the project before Singh allegedly walked away from the film just weeks before the scheduled shoot.
According to Pandit, the producers approached the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) seeking support after facing heavy financial losses due to the actor’s abrupt departure. He claimed that the production house had completed substantial pre-production work before the unexpected development.
“Just three weeks before the unit was supposed to leave for the shoot, Ranveer Singh withdrew from the film and left the project,” Pandit said while discussing the matter.
The situation has now escalated into an industry-level dispute. FWICE recently issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh, advising its members not to cooperate with the actor until the matter is resolved. The federation also backed the producers’ demand for reimbursement of the alleged losses incurred by the production.
Pandit further explained that FWICE had attempted to hear both sides before taking any action. While the producers reportedly met with the federation multiple times, Singh allegedly remained unresponsive for nearly a month despite reminders and invitations for discussions.
According to Pandit, the actor later responded through a letter stating that the issue did not fall under FWICE’s jurisdiction. “Then he wrote a letter saying it is not in our jurisdiction, so there’s not a proper forum to take this call,” Pandit said.
Following internal meetings, the federation decided to issue the non-cooperation directive, stating that such last-minute exits from projects could seriously affect the functioning of the film industry.
“We have made an appeal to him, to all the producer bodies, to get together and see to this trend, which is a very dangerous trend of anybody leaving a project,” Pandit added.
In its official statement, FWICE emphasised that the entertainment industry operates on trust, professional commitment and collective responsibility among artists, producers, technicians and workers. The body stated that sudden withdrawals from major projects threaten the industry’s working ecosystem and financial stability.
Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh’s team has maintained silence publicly. His spokesperson released a statement saying the actor believes professional discussions and personal equations should be handled “with dignity, maturity and mutual respect.” The statement also clarified that Singh holds immense respect for the Don franchise and everyone associated with it, but does not wish to discuss the matter publicly.
A day after FWICE announced the directive, Ranveer Singh was spotted at the airport dressed in a white kurta-pyjama paired with a black overcoat, sunglasses and face mask. Videos of the actor quickly surfaced online, though he chose not to address the controversy despite paparazzi calling out to him.
The future of Don 3 now remains uncertain as fans await clarity from the makers regarding casting and the project’s next steps.
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